On Thursday, February 25, 2021 Mayor Mitch Roth and the Hawaiʻi County Police Department honored three County Police Officers for their lifesaving efforts resulting from the use of newly acquired department-issued tourniquets.

Honored officers included Sgt. Ryan Pagan, Damien Grace, and Blane Kenolio.

“We are pleased to honor the courageous work of these three outstanding officers who were able to save the lives of our residents by using the newly acquired tourniquets,” said Mayor Mitch Roth in a statement from his office. “The officers’ ability to utilize the new equipment with precision and accuracy speaks to the leadership and training within the Hawaiʻi County Police Department, and I could not be more proud to work beside the men and women in blue. All of our officers uphold themselves with dignity and pride and are shining examples of what community-minded policing should look like.”

In July 2020, the department received a grant from the Spirit of the Blue Foundation to obtain 442 tourniquets and holsters. In addition, HPD received 120 tourniquets from Kona Community Hospital in September 2020, intended for the 91st and 92nd police recruit classes, with an estimated value of $3,000. Holsters for those 120 tourniquets were paid for with a $2,000 donation from the family of the late officer Christopher Sugimoto (Evans Ohana).

Photo courtesy of the Hawaiʻi County Mayor’s Office